Edinburgh Marathon Festival - Marathon

Starting on Holyrood Park Road with the picturesque backdrop of Holyrood Park, this incredible city centre route brings you past the impressive Surgeons' Hall, designed by William Henry Playfair in 1832.

This part of city is a fabulous mix of history, and festival culture. You will run past Scotland's premier dance and opera house, the Festival Theatre, which comes alive with a variety of world-class productions, particularly during the summer festival months.

The route then turns right, and meanders down the historic Royal Mile, heading towards and past the somewhat controversial Scottish Parliament building. Here you can look up and take in the spectacular Arthurs Seat & Salisbury Crags, as well as the Palace of Holyrood, before departing the Royal Park and heading east towards the coast.

As you reach Musselburgh, you’ll run past the oldest golf course in the world, where it’s documented that golf has been played as early as 1672, before heading further East on the flat to Gosford House, an imposing neo-classical mansion which was one of the last great architectural commissions of the celebrated Scots architect, Robert Adam.

As you turn and head back along the coast, you’ll see the beautiful finish line ahead, one of the greatest sights for any marathon runner!

With a descent of almost 90 metres to near sea level, we believe that this is the fastest marathon route in the world.

Wicking finisher’s t-shirt

Accurate chip timing

Tailored training plan

Great finisher’s medal

Race recovery pack

Fantastic running experience

Marathon - 18yrs
Half Marathon - 17yrs
Hairy Haggis Relay - 15yrs
10K - 15yrs
5K - 11yrs

Fast & flat, this course was voted the fastest marathon in the UK by Runners World, ideal if it’s your first marathon or you are looking for a PB. The Edinburgh Marathon has sold out every year since 2008 and is the second largest marathon in the UK, behind only London. Enjoy a fantastic all-encompassing route which takes in some of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks as well as offering picturesque views along the East Lothian coastline

EDINBURGH MARATHON ROUTE
Starting on Potterrow in the grounds of one of the oldest Universities in the world, this incredible city centre start takes you through the very heart of Edinburgh. As you pass Greyfriars Bobby on your left, you also take in the National Museum of Scotland on your right, before heading over the High Street and down The Mound. Don’t be surprised if you see a few shoppers stop and cheer as you then run past the Scottish National Gallery and into Princes Street Gardens, with the iconic Edinburgh Castle as your backdrop. The route then takes in the ‘Gothic Rocket’, otherwise known as the Scott Monument, as it meanders down the historic Royal Mile, heading towards and past the somewhat controversial Scottish Parliament building. Here you can look up and take in the spectacular Arthurs Seat & Salisbury Crags, as well as the Palace of Holyrood, before departing the Royal Park and heading east towards the coast. As you reach Musselburgh, you’ll run past the oldest golf course in the world, where it’s documented that golf has been played as early as 1672, before heading further East on the flat to Gosford House, an imposing neo-classical mansion which was one of the last great architectural commissions of the celebrated Scots architect, Robert Adam. As you turn and head back along the coast, you’ll see the beautiful finish line ahead, one of the greatest sights for any marathon runner! With a descent of almost 90 metres to near sea level, we believe that this is the fastest marathon route in the world.

All your queries answered and more!

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Runners and Spectators can purchase an EMF Event Bus ticket to allow easy travel to and from the start and finish areas. On the day tickets will be significantly more expensive to purchase.

It is in your best interests to get the earliest bus possible as this will reduce crowding and waiting time. Please note that the EMF Event Bus pick up point is a 25 min walk from the finish area.

• The start/finish area for the EMF Saturday races and the EMF Hub are located at Dynamic Earth (EH8 8AS) in Holyrood Park
• The start of the Edinburgh Marathon, Half Marathon and Team Relay is on Potterrow (EH8 9AL) in the city centre. The race will finish at Pinkie (EH21 7HA) St Peter’s Primary School, Musselburgh, approximately 8 miles from Edinburgh city centre.